Joseph smith was the first prophet of the lds church. Stories from the life of joseph smith by richard e. The characters were initially copied onto a portion of a larger leaf of paper, which was folded horizontally into at least three or four parts. Visions of moses, june 1830 moses 1 the joseph smith. It is also claimed that joseph smith copied the name nephi from the apocrypha. The making of a prophet, we focus our attention on the creation of the book of mormon. Book of mormon plates and records the encyclopedia of. According to smith, the book was a translation of some ancient records. The book of mormon emulates the language and style of the king james bible because that is the scriptural style joseph smith, translator of the book of mormon, was familiar with. This book includes a long selection from ethan smiths book and attempts to establish a hebrew origin for native americans. Ces letter different cosmology the earliest joseph smith could have read this book was 1836, which was after the book of abraham was produced. The king james biblecritics of the book of mormon claim that major. A byu research paper published in march 2017 exposes parallels between the joseph smith translation of the bible, and a book published in 1831.
The book of moses and the joseph smith translation manuscripts. It is possible that verses 1218 of words of mormon were not originally part of words of mormon, but were part of the book of mosiah. Some researchers believe that the book of mormon was partly based on an earlier book view of the hebrews or the tribes of israel in america by ethan smith no relation. An unfinished manuscript copy of a historical fiction by spalding, written from 1809 to 1812, about a roman. December 23, 1805 june 27, 1844 was an american religious leader and founder of mormonism and the latter day saint movement. Much can be known about the coming forth of the english text of the book of mormon through a careful study of.
The book of the jews and the property of joseph smith junior and oliver cowdery bought october the 8 th 1829 at e. Now, a decade and a half later, persuitte has added many more facts in this, the 325page second edition. That issue is compounded by the fact that we know joseph smith also copied kjv passages and phrases from revelations, acts, matthew, malachi, 1 corinthians, and john. Joseph smith and the lds church for over 170 years have claimed that the book of abraham is a translation of a portion of the papyri scrolls purchased by the church in 1835 kirtland, ohio, and that this portion contains the writings of abraham written by abrahams own hand. Joseph smiths plagiarism of the bible in the book of mormon. One literary element i liked in this book is the element of setting. According to smith, these characters were from the golden plates the ancient record from which smith claims to have translated the book of mormon and represent the reformed egyptian writing that was on the plates. Several commentators on mormon history and the book of mormon, including lds church general authority b. Joseph smith and the origins of the book of mormon 2nd edition and also in kindle david persuitte, a technical writer from virginia, wrote the first edition of this book in 1985. Joseph smith said that the book of mormon was the most correct of any book. Joseph smith, american prophet and founder of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Foundation of the book of mormon series book of mormon plagiarism if ive said it once ive said it a thousand times. Could joseph smith have authored the book of mormon. I find it very interesting that much of what joseph smith wrote was not necessarily the first time something had been written about, and how this is used as a con against him and the book of mormon.
Being born and raised in an lds family in ogden, utah came with the understanding youd be learning all you could about joseph smith, mormonism. Learn more about the life, writings, and legacy of joseph smith. Joseph smith s plagiarism of the bible in the book of mormon pdf digital book. The book of mormon and the bible mormons in transition. Joseph smiths unsuccessful application to erase his debts in bankruptcy had been mentioned in passing by church historians, but never explored. The truth about the authorship of the book of mormon. In february 1828, joseph smith copied characters allegedly from gold plates and gave them to martin harris, one of the book of mormons three witnesses so he could have them inspected by charles anthon, a respected classical scholar at columbia college in new york. Even the book of mormon, which joseph smith said was the most correct book on earth, never even mentions temple ceremonies. Mar 06, 2012 i told the brethren that the book of mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to god by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.
Joseph smith as a young man could neither write nor dictate a coherent and wellworded letter, let alone dictate a book like the book of mormon. It would seem that joseph smith or oliver cowdrey merely copied the passages from his bible to the book of mormon. Byu research concludes joseph smith copied a 1831 bible book to create the jst of the bible. Visions of moses, june 1830 moses 1 the joseph smith papers. Joseph copied three drawings from the egyptian scrolls while creating the book of abraham, and he labeled them facsimile no.
Lds church history documents that their mormon founder, joseph smith, lied to a large group of people about his having multiple wives. Joseph used a rock in a hat for the book of mormon dictation but may have also used the 1769 kjv edition bible and possibly other sources in aiding in producing the book of mormon. The solomon spalding theory chapter 9 of joseph smiths. He added that he knew joseph smith was a prophet and that the book of. Ran across an interesting quote about swedenborg and joseph. Apocryphacritics claim that joseph smith created the story of nephi and laban by plagiarizing concepts and phrases from the story of judith and holofernes in the apocrypha. The book of abraham is a work produced between 1835 and 1842 by joseph smith based, he said, on egyptian papyri purchased from a traveling mummy exhibition. Book of mormonplagiarism accusationsking james bible. The book of mormon contains passages from the king james bible summary. As a result, joseph smiths contribution to the history of american creativity has been neglected. Roberts and fawn brodie, joseph smiths, biographer noted the considerable similarities in the content of view of the hebrews and the book of mormon, which was published seven years after ethan smiths book. David wright explains in joseph smiths interpretation of isaiah in the book of mormon, book of mormon isaiah reproduces the kjv text literally except for a few words or phrases here and. The digital book may not be resold, altered, copied for another person, or hosted on any server without the express written permission of utah lighthouse ministry. There are several theories as to the origin of the book of mormon.
More on joseph smiths plagiarism in the book of mormon. Apr 22, 2016 david wright explains in joseph smiths interpretation of isaiah in the book of mormon, book of mormon isaiah reproduces the kjv text literally except for a few words or phrases here and. Debunking fairmormon letter to a ces director book of. What was surmised to have been written in joseph smiths. When it comes to the book of mormon translation, there is what is called a tight translation and there is. The most common belief of adherents is that promoted by joseph smith, who. Joseph smith is often accused of creating the book of mormon by. What are 1769 kjv edition errors doing in book of mormon. Joseph smith and martin harris began by translating the plates of mormon, and when they had reached the reign of king benjamin, they had 116 pages of translation.
The king james version was completed in 1611 ad and the book of mormon published in 1830. Joseph smith may have been influenced by this book in later. Its clear then that joseph smith copied freemasonry. Proof the book of mormon isnt true the book of mormon contradicts the bible and was actually a work of fiction written by joseph smith in the 1800s, who copied much of it from the king james version, trying to make it look like an ancient manuscript. The book of mormon contradicts the bible and was actually a work of fiction written by joseph smith in the 1800s, who copied much of it from the king james version, trying to make it look like an ancient manuscript. In 1877, when interviewed by edward stevenson, david whitmer did not mention this document. Joseph smiths plagiarism of the bible in the book of. I will present no additional research or even new insights from the treasury of the joseph smith papers. Critics of the book of mormon claim that major portions of it are copied, without attribution, from the bible. Scholars poured over the papyri, examining their contents and illustrations, comparing these to smiths translation. Another book, the wonders of nature and providence displayed, was in the local manchester library five miles from joseph smith s home and extant records show that it was reportedly checked out during the years 1826 to 1828.
This idea was originated by anselm of canterbury and was a raging debate during the time of joseph smith. Additional information from part 1 of joseph smiths plagiarism of the bible in the book of mormon, pages 3738 in 2008 another computer study was done by matt jockers, craig criddle and daniela witten, comparing various authors word prints, including solomon spalding and sidney rigdon, with that of the book of mormon. Joseph smiths plagiarism of the bible in the book of mormon pdf digital book. Joseph smith copied three drawings from the egyptian scrolls, labeled them facsimile no. The king james biblecritics of the book of mormon claim that major portions of it are copied, without attribution, from the bible. Ran across an interesting quote about swedenborg the kindle app is nice, but try stanza. Also that the copies thereof should be laid up in the treasury 1 maccabees. Besides the extensive list of parallels between the bible and the book of mormon, this book. In several cases, the plagiarism is proof that joseph smith was the author of the book of mormon, since the source of the copied text was not accessible to the alleged book of mormon authors. Through his extensive research, dan theorizes that the book of mormon is a tangible artifact giving insight into joseph smiths state of mind, and commentary on. How do you explain the fact that joseph smith copied from the kjv but deleted the italicized words in the kjv because he figured they were not in the original.
Joseph smith may have been influenced by this book in later writings. Did joseph smith get the book of abraham cosmology from. Religious studies center, brigham young university, 2005. Item x that joseph smith copied into the book of mormon lehi dream item y. Jesus never asks his followers to do temple ceremonies in the bible. Joseph smith is often accused of creating the book of mormon by plagiarizing various contemporary sources such as the spalding manuscript or ethan smith s view of the hebrews. Ran across an interesting quote about swedenborg and. Additional information from part 1 of joseph smith s plagiarism of the bible in the book of mormon, pages 3738 in 2008 another computer study was done by matt jockers, craig criddle and daniela witten, comparing various authors word prints, including solomon spalding and sidney rigdon, with that of the book of mormon. See call, copied from the journal of anson call, 34. Egyptologists have viewed the drawings and found joseph smith s interpretation of them to be wrong. Most adherents to the latter day saint movement view the book as a work of inspired scripture.
By the time of his death, 14 years later, he had attracted tens of thousands of followers and founded a religion that continues to the present with millions of global adherents. Smith published the book of mormon in 1830 and shortly thereafter organized a small church of his first followers. When it comes to the book of mormon translation, there is what is called a tight translation and there is what is called a loose translation. Im now on android and miss stanza aldiko is almost as good. I told the brethren that the book of mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to god by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.
People are sometimes surprised to discover that the plates of the book of mormon were not regularly used during the process of its translation. Feb 19, 2020 joseph smith, american prophet and founder of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Brand visited john whitmer and saw a facsimile of the characters of the plates. Dec 30, 2017 theres a book published in 1830 by thomas dick entitled the philosophy of the future state. Dec 23, 2015 scholars poured over the papyri, examining their contents and illustrations, comparing these to smiths translation. Would you respond to the theories that the book of mormon is based. It does not require much reasoning to see which solution is the simplest. To order this book directly from amazon, click here. Joseph smith and the origins of the book of mormon 2nd edition and also in kindle. The book of mormon is an account of the former inhabitants of this continent that contains the fulness of the everlasting gospel. This book includes a long selection from ethan smith s book and attempts to establish a hebrew origin for native americans. David persuitte, a technical writer from virginia, wrote the first edition of this book in 1985.
The present english book of mormon, however, is not simply a translation of all those gold plates. When he was 24, smith published the book of mormon. Different cosmology the earliest joseph smith could have read this book was 1836, which was after the book of abraham was produced. When oliver cowdery was making the printers manuscript of the book of mormon, he copied the text of the original book of mormon manuscript faithfully, including putting down chapter iii from the original manuscript, but couldnt find chapters 1 and. Debunking fairmormon letter to a ces director book of abraham. The spaldingrigdon theory of book of mormon authorship is the theory that the book of. What a thing it is for a man to be accused of committing adultery, and having seven wives, when i can only. The most significant of my writings about joseph smith began small but gradually expanded into many legal proceedings that illuminated important subjects previously unknown. The book of abraham translation watchman fellowship, inc. Another book, the wonders of nature and providence displayed, was in the local manchester library five miles from joseph smiths home and extant records show that it was reportedly checked out during the years 1826 to 1828. How the book of abraham exposes the false nature of. Sep 21, 2017 people are sometimes surprised to discover that the plates of the book of mormon were not regularly used during the process of its translation. How the book of abraham exposes the false nature of mormonism. That joseph smith wrote the book, or that a divine being.
Nehemiah king, spauldings brother, and seven other residents identify it as coming from spauldings manuscript. There are similarities with some of joseph smiths ideas, yes, but there are also important differences. How the joseph smith translation of the bible was created. The book of mormon is written in the style of the kjv, which seems unlikely to match what joseph smith claims was reformed egyptian on the gold plates. In our final segments with renowned joseph smith historian dan vogel, author of joseph smith. Jun 26, 2017 it is possible that verses 1218 of words of mormon were not originally part of words of mormon, but were part of the book of mosiah. In many other cases, joseph smith made minor word changes or additions. Emma smiths copy of the 1841 book of mormon found church. Joseph smith owned a copy of the book and oliver cowdery quoted some lengthy excerpts. The making of a prophet, we focus our attention on the creation of the book of mormon through his extensive research, dan theorizes that the book of mormon is a tangible artifact giving insight into joseph smiths state of mind, and commentary on the cultural and spiritual influences that. This bible, an 1828 stereotype edition printed by h. A notation on the flyleaf, in the handwriting of js, reads. I will reference a book and three articles in professional journals and a published speech at a scholarly conference in illinois. Is there any evidence that joseph was a good writer at age 23 when the book of mormon came forth and thus might have been its author.
They present this as evidence that joseph smith wrote the book of mormon by plagiarizing the authorized king james version of the bible. Originally i was not going to answer, then i read all of the replies from faithful saints who beat me to the punch. The anthon transcript often identified with the caractors document is a piece of paper on which joseph smith wrote several lines of characters. One thing he noticed was that if smith was copying from a text written by. Possible sources of plagairism for joseph smith exploring.
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